Volleyball Edges UMass Dartmouth, 3-2

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University women's volleyball team captured a 3-2 decision over host UMass Dartmouth on Thursday evening.

After dropping the first set, 25-21, the Bears responded with a 25-18 win in the second set and a 25-17 triumph in the third. The Corsairs answered with a 26-24 victory to even the match before BSU closed it out with a 15-11 decision in the fifth and deciding set.

The Bears improve to 2-9 on the season with the win, while the Corsairs slip to 4-7.

Senior outside hitter Clara Goncalves (Dennis, Mass.) paced the visitors with a season-high 19 kills and a .500 hitting percentage to go along with four blocks (three solo). Junior setter Charleyne Panner (Gilford, N.H.) notched a season-high 45 assists as well as 14 digs, three kills and three aces.

Junior outside hitter Hannah Maymon (Narragansett, R.I) added 12 kills and six digs, while junior middle hitter Sydney Bennett (North Attleboro, Mass.) notched eight kills and two aces and freshman libero Cassidy Tyros (Chelmsdford, Mass.) tallied 17 digs. Fresman right side hitter Elizabeth Roberts (Swansea, Mass.) checked in with eight kills, nine digs and a pair of assists.

Senior Eliza Bowes (West Yarmouth, Mass.) registered eight kills, eight service aces, and 10 digs to lead the Corsairs. Classmate Kayla Kirby (Westport, Mass.) fired home nine winners, while junior Christina Spinazola (Medway, Mass.) handed out 36 assists.  Senior Brianna Perry (Acushnet, Mass.) tallied a game-high 20 digs.

Holding on to a 2-1 lead, Bridgewater was on the verge of winning the match as the Bears led 20-14 in the fourth set. UMass, however, reeled off seven staight points to jump ahead, 21-20. BSU responded by scoring four of the next five points, including a kill by Bennett and a pair of blocks by Goncalves, to get to match point (24-22). UMass battled back with back-to-back kills by Bowes and Kirby and consecutive aces by Spinazola to win the set, 26-24.

The Corsairs, however, were unable to sustain their momentum in the fifth set, as Bridgewater State scored the opening five points and never looked back.   

The Bears return to action next Tuesday evening when they travel to Regis College for a seven o'clock match with the Pride. The Corsairs entertain Little East Conference foe University of Southern Maine on Saturday at noon.